If you’re wondering how to use Sky Glass without remote, then this guide is just for you!
Sky Glass arrives with a remote control, but if you’ve lost the remote or haven’t got batteries to insert, you should learn how to control Sky Glass without a remote.
Luckily, this guide covers all possible methods to interact with the Sky Glass TV without a physical remote, so let’s dive in.
To control Sky Glass TV without a remote control, simply say “Hello, Sky,” and tell your TV what you must do. For hands-free voice control, you can also use the Sky app and utilise the digital Sky remote control.
Let’s continue to unwrap!
Can You Use Sky Glass Without Remote?
The remote control of a Sky Glass TV includes everything from a number pad, volume, power, fast-forward, skip, home button and a return.
You may think that without a remote, you would lose access to all these commands, but with a Sky Glass TV, you don’t need to worry about this.
The Sky Glass TV supports hands-free voice operation, and you can narrate commands with your voice to interact with and control the TV.
So, yes, you can control the Sky Glass TV without a remote, and the best part is that you can do so in multiple ways.
Here are all the ways to control Sky Glass TV without the physical remote:
Important: Sky Hands-Free Voice Control
The Sky hands-free voice control on a Sky Glass is only available if you have the Sky Ultimate subscription.
With the correct membership, you can use voice control on the Glass (hands-free) and your Sky puck by pressing the “Voice” or “Microphone” button on the Sky remote control.
Let’s next explore the methods to control Sky Glass without a remote!
How to Use Sky Glass Without Remote in 4 Methods?
Tip: Try all of the methods described in the guide below!
1. Use the Sky Voice Commands!
One of the most significant features of the Sky Glass TV is the hands-free voice control, which is an inbuilt feature of your Sky Glass television.
The voice control allows you to interact with the TV without needing a physical remote, and you can access absolutely anything you might need.
The voice control on a Sky Glass TV only works when you first say the wake word, which is “Hello, Sky…” for a Sky Glass TV.
Upon pronouncing the wake word, your Sky Glass TV will listen to what you will say next and automatically execute your commands.
Here are some examples of Sky Glass voice commands you can use:
- Hello, Sky… go to the TV Guide
- Hello, Sky… fast-forward 20 seconds
- Hello, Sky… pause (the playout pauses)
- Hello, Sky… play (for a full screen)
- Hello, Sky… open [app name]
- Hello, Sky… set the volume to 20
- Hello, Sky… turn on the subtitles
- Hello, Sky… switch to HDMI [N]
- Hello, Sky… goodnight (turns off)
If your voice control on a Sky Glass TV is not working, you must double-check whether you’ve got the Sky Ultimate membership.
If you do, but you still can’t control the Sky Glass TV, make sure that you’re staying within four metres from the TV when narrating your voice commands.
Info: The hands-free voice control feature on Sky Glass is enabled by default!
2. Download the Sky Remote App
Another way to control a Sky Glass TV without the physical remote control is to use a digital one and enjoy full control over your television.
The digital remote is an application available for any Android or iOS mobile or tablet and is able to connect and control Sky Glass or a Sky Q TV box.
You can use any smartphone or tablet with an Android or iOS operating system to download the “Remote For Sky, SkyQ, Sky+HD” app.
To get the app, you must enter the respective content store: Google Play for Androids and App Store for Apple devices.
Here’s exactly what you need to do:
- Download the Sky+ application on your phone.
- Open the app and sign into your Sky account.
- Then, go to the “Help & Settings” section tab.
- Under the Settings, select “Connect to Sky.”
- Enable the feature on the following app page.
- Select your Sky Glass TV to pair with the unit.
When paired with the Sky Glass TV, you will be provided with a fully-fledged digital remote, containing every single button as the physical remote.
From there, you don’t need the remote control to access absolutely any feature on your TV as long as you’re connected to the internet.
Important: Your Sky Glass must be connected to the same WiFi or network as the mobile device you will use for the Sky digital remote app.
3. Turn On/Off Sky TV With Button
If you didn’t know, on the right-hand side of your Sky Glass TV, there are two buttons you can use to control the Sky Glass TV without a remote control.
- One is a power button, which simply powers on and off your Sky Glass TV, and the other is for disabling the far-field microphones.
So, if you want to turn the TV on and off without a remote control, you must simply press the power button on the right side of the TV panel.
Also, if you would like to disable the microphone, then press the button with a crossed microphone icon.
Note: Holding the power button on the Sky Glass TV for 30 seconds will shut down the device!
4. Pair a Universal Remote Control
Another permanent way to control a Sky Glass TV without a remote is by pairing a universal remote control.
However, getting an Infrared (IR) universal remote is imperative to access basic Sky Glass TV commands such as Volume +/-, Channel Up/Down and a power state.
However, with a universal remote control, you may experience difficulties with some commands due to compatibility problems.
In addition, universal remotes cannot trigger the voice command feature due to the lack of “Voice” or “Microphone” buttons.
Did You Know Sky Remotes Are Cheap?
Well, getting a brand-new remote control may be much more inexpensive than you think.
For instance, you can get an original Sky Glass/Stream Remote for only £29 from Amazon or get in touch with Sky Customer Service for a warranty replacement or purchase a new remote.
My Sky Remote is Not Working – How To Fix?
If you’ve given up on your Sky Glass remote because it’s not working, we recommend stepping back to check whether you can solve the issue.
In most cases, issues with the Sky remote come from the batteries, the IR line of sight, or problems with the television.
So, here are a couple of good ways to fix issues with your Sky remote:
Replace the Remote Batteries!
The Sky remote control uses 2 x AA batteries, so if your remote is not working, first replace the batteries with a fresh pair.
In addition, verify that the polarity springs within the compartment are not missing, are intact, and are not bent when correctly inserting the batteries.
Power Cycle the TV & Remote
If your Sky remote is not controlling your Sky Glass TV, disconnect the TV from the power for 60 seconds and eject the remote’s batteries.
In the meantime, press all remote buttons twice to discharge the remote, reconnect the TV and reinsert the remote batteries.
Clear the Infrared Obstructions
The infrared line of sight is one of the most critical factors in deciding whether your remote will work.
So, it’s essential to ensure that the visual IR path between the remote and the Sky Glass TV is not obstructed by any physical objects or nearby interfering infrared devices.
Note: If your Sky Glass remote is not working, there could be a hardware malfunction!
Quick Recap:
How to use Sky Glass without remote? One way is to use the hands-free voice control of the Sky Glass TV by saying “Hello, Sky” before narrating a command.
Another way is to download the Sky+ app and use the digital remote or power on/off the TV with the button.
Follow us for more Sky Glass, Sky Q and Sky Stream guides and troubleshooting!
Kevin has over five years of experience working in various Tech startups and providing Technical solutions. He has contributed to many Tech publications and websites. Check out more about him here.